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A virus or a childhood ailment which often causes high temperatures was blamed.

But Ivy then went off her food and Rebecca found she was more clingy than normal.

They suspected she could be reacting to the arrival of baby brother, Sunny, who was then only four months old but it turned out to be much more serious.

Ivy became lethargic, her high temperatures returned and when Rebecca noticed the right side of her tummy felt hard she called 111.

Ivy from Tavistock is donating her clothes to help raise funds for research into childhood cancer

By then Rebecca knew something was wrong and Ivy was taken by ambulance to Derriford Hospital.

A consultant in the child assessment unit suspected Ivy had a tumour and arranged further tests which confirmed the family's worst fears - the youngster had five tumours on her right kidney which had merged into one.

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Doctors were still not sure exactly which type of cancer Ivy had and so she was sent to a specialist hospital in Bristol where, after a biopsy, it was confirmed she was suffering from stage four Wilms tumour.

Ivy with her mum Rebecca (on left) and brother Sunny and Bex’s sister Victoria and her little girl is Delilah

Sadly by the time Ivy was diagnosed, the cancer had spread to her lungs.

Although it may not seem it, Ivy has been one of the lucky ones as she is now on the road to recovery.

Rebecca added: “We had been oblivious to what was wrong. It is silly when I look back.

“I thought she must have swallowed something or was suffering from some sort of infection.

“We never suspected cancer and when we were told what was wrong it was a massive shock.

“The not knowing and waiting for the results of the biopsy were almost worst. We were Googling her symptoms and that was a big mistake.

“Once she was diagnosed and doctors told us the plan to treat her we started to feel a bit better”.

Ivy with her family in hospital

Ivy immediately faced six weeks of chemotherapy to reduce the tumours before having surgery to remove them and her right kidney and she had to endure countless blood transfusions.

Because her lungs were not completely clear of cancer, she also had radiotherapy before embarking on a course of very intensive chemotherapy treatment for 34 weeks.

Ivy has recently finished the radiotherapy course and has started five months of maintenance therapy to ensure her lungs and her remaining kidney stay clear of cancer for good.

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But Rebecca and Jake, a gardener in Tavistock, are very proud of the way both children coped with spending so much time in hospital.

“We just had to get on with it and stay positive”, said Rebecca. “We spent a lot of time in hospital and she took it all so well. Ivy loves the hospital and the doctors.

“She has shown an amazing amount of bravery and positivity. Sunny, who is now 18 months, also got used to it. He didn’t know anything else”.

The family fund raise wherever they can. Last year mum Rebecca and sister Sarah Parkes shaved their hair

Ivy still suffers short-term side effects, getting very tired and dealing with tummy pains and sickness.

The toddler, who had only just started attending pre-school three mornings a week before she was diagnosed, was unable to return to her class until recently because of the risk of picking up infections due to her low immunity.

Rebecca said: “Staff there have been so lovely and they kept in touch. But Ivy has had a year of not being able to mix with children her own age.

"She really wanted to go back to pre-school and she is now able to go one day a week.”

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Ivy is one of around 120 children in the South West who are diagnosed with cancer every year.

The Hurle's are now using any spare time they have to help TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, which encourages people to donate good quality clothing, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest store.

Her family are now urging people across the city and beyond to clear out their wardrobes and raise money to help fund research into children’s cancers.

You can drop your clothes into T K Maxx, Royal Parade

The project works by rallying as many people as possible to donate good quality clothing, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.

All in a bid to prevent other children going through what Ivy has.

Each bag donated could raise up to £30 when sold in Cancer Research UK shops. The money raised will help fund research to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.

Donated items are being collected from all TK Maxx stores across the UK, including the store on Royal Parade.